Her4 is necessary for establishing peripheral projections of the trigeminal ganglia in zebrafish

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Jan 30;379(1):22-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.11.149. Epub 2008 Dec 11.

Abstract

Transcripts of notch and its target genes have been detected in some differentiating neurons. However, the role of Notch in neuronal differentiation remains poorly defined. Here, we show that a subset of differentiating sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglia express her4. Expression of her4 requires Notch signaling during neurogenesis but not during differentiation, when peripheral projections of the trigeminal ganglia are established. These projections develop poorly in her4 morphants. While many components of the canonical Notch signaling pathway are not required for late her4 expression or peripheral axon outgrowth in trigeminal neurons, simultaneous knock-down of Notch receptors prevents establishment of these peripheral projections. These observations suggest that Her4 and Notch play a role in peripheral outgrowth of sensory neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Axons / physiology
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Sensory Receptor Cells / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / cytology
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / growth & development*
  • Trigeminal Ganglion / metabolism
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / growth & development*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • her4.1 protein, zebrafish
  • neurog1 protein, zebrafish